- English -

- English -

The imposing Benrath Palace is located in the south of Düsseldorf, twelve kilometers from the city's former gates and not far from the Rhine.

It´s one of the most beautiful garden castles of the 18th century and one of the most popular sights in Düsseldorf. The pink palace complex with its parks, gardens and facilities is one of the now rare magnificent buildings of the late Rococo.

Visitors can walk in the footsteps of the nobility on a guided tour of the palace, stroll in the artistically and picturesque gardens or visit the museums of garden art and natural history located there.

In 1755, at the behest of Elector Karl Theodor of Palatinate, a baroque palace in the Rococo and Classicist styles was built. Construction took 17 years, from 1756 to 1773.

The architect of the Maison de Plaisance with its spacious gardens was Nicolas de Pigage, the “Director of the Gardens and Water Arts” at the Mannheimer Hof. De Pigage created Benrath Palace from Jan Wellem's former moated castle as a "Maison de plaisance" based on the French model.

The effort to create an overall composition of architecture, garden art and sculpture is characteristic of the era of the late baroque at the transition to classicism. From the outside it appears to be one storey, but the castle has 80 rooms on four floors. The park grounds, which reflect the architecture of the castle, were later completed.

Big robes, nobles, mistresses, pleasure and festivities, that's what Schloss Benrath was created for. However, the elector visited his estate only once - in an afternoon.

After the Wars of Liberation, the hunting and pleasure palace passed into Prussian hands in 1815. Among others, used by Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig of Prussia, Princess Luise, Karl Anton Fürst von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and by Kaiser Wilhelm I.

In 1911 the castle was bought by the municipality of Benrath and in 1929 it became the property of the city of Düsseldorf. Until 1958 the girls' school "Benrather Schloss-Lyzeum" was housed there.

In the late 50s, a tourist attraction emerged from the castle, also due to various state visits there. Since 2000, the Benrath Palace and Park Foundation has taken over the management and use of the facility. 

Films also used the  “Maison de plaisance” as an impressive backdrop for their stories. During the past decades, the castle has also served as a venue for the novels “Effie Briest” by Theodor Fontane and “The Black Swan” by Thomas Mann.

The most popular park in North Rhine-Westphalia was the Benrather Schlosspark in 2013 by the WDR (West German Broadcasting). And admittedly, North Rhine-Westphalia has some beautiful parks to offer. But the green, floral estate with a total area of ​​around 61 hectares impresses its visitors again and again.

Nowadays a large part of the castle park is under monument and nature protection. The magnificent gardens, ponds and meadows now house almost 80 species of birds and 300 different kind of beetles.

On a approximately two-hour exploration tour through the park grounds, you will discover orchard meadows, walk through the hunting garden, explore the fruits of the vegetable gardens and be fascinated by the mirror pond, which is an impressive 470 meters long.

Rare North American copse characterize the so-called Elector's garden, which was created by outstanding garden artists such as Maximilian Friedrich Weyhe and Peter Joseph Lenné in the 19th century.

The park is freely accessible and admission is free.

There are also evening concerts in the idyllic castle park in summer - a particularly popular event is the classic open-air "Festival of Lights". A summer concert in the park at which all visitors have a picnic.

In any case, this is a special experience. People drag tables, chairs, candlesticks, lanterns, blankets, pillows etc. into the park and listen to classical music followed by fireworks and water-light plays.

The castle itself can be visited on guided tours with different thematic priorities. Numerous historical furniture, porcelain and paintings are waiting to be admired!

The Museum of European Garden Art is thematically unique and offers a good overview of 2500 years of garden art in Europe on around 2,000 square meters.

The Museum für Naturkunde shows the natural history of the Lower Rhine Bay and the Lower Bergisches Land. Here visitors can find out about changes in the course of the Rhine, fishing, fauna and flora.

A hundred years ago today: Dancing with the devil – Spanish flu reaches south western Africa

On the 9th October 1918, the first victim of Spanish flu in the country was reported. The devastating epidemic that had spread across the world like...

We visited the graves of the victims of the Spanish flu in Namibia. Friend and foe got killed.

-English-

Nordkirchen Castle is located in the town of the same name on the southern edge of the Münsterland region.

Nordkirchen Castle was not the first castle at this place. The first castle in Nordkirchen was built on this ground around 1400, at that time by the Lüdinghausen knight family.

In this context, the old church near the castle was demolished under great turmoil, in which even the Pope was involved, and rebuilt along with the village at the present location.

Later a chapel, from 1609 a cross reminded of the old church. The cross was renewed in 1860 by the Esterhazy, the then castle owners. In 1975 it received a new body, the work of the artist Tisa von der Schulenburg.

Originally, Nordkirchen Castle after the purchase was only to be expanded  by the owner of Nordkirchen Castle. When planning began in 1697, the aim was to create a residential complex that was as representative as possible for the court of the then Prince-Bishop of Münster. But then he decided on a complete demolition and a completely new building.

Construction began in 1703 and took over 30 years. Two architects in particular shaped the style of the complex: Gottfried Laurenz Pictorius started the design and construction management, and after his death Johann Conrad Schlaun completed the work.

However, the client and actual "father of the castle", Prince-Bishop of Münster, Friedrich Christian von Plettenberg-Lenhausen, did not experience the completion of his idea. He died in 1706 and his nephew "Ferdinand von Plettenberg" became the new house owner in Nordkirchen. In 1712, at the age of 22, he was alone in front of the large building project.

The same year Ferdinand married Bernhardine Felicitas v. Westerholt zu Lembeck and later decisively influenced European politics as the imperial count. He not only had the castle furnished much more splendidly than originally thought by his uncle, but also became the sponsor and initiator of other buildings in the village with his wife.

Nordkirchen Castle is still referred to as "Westphalian Versailles". The symmetrical structure of the building with a courtyard on the south side and a garden on the north side shows that there are parallels that are deliberate. But the brick construction typical of the Münsterland gives the castle its own character.

Another big difference from the French model is the double moat that surrounds the castle. The two trenches are separated by an accessible wall.

If you enter the castle island from the south through the lion gate, the visitor can see the entire horseshoe-shaped complex. If the former farmyard with the stables is crossed, you can reach the courtyard through the women gate (Cour d'Honneur).

The actual main building (Corps de Logis) now rises to the north and can be visited (guided tour). It consists of a transept and pavilions attached on both sides.

The area in the middle (Risalit) with its four pilasters in the gable field bears the coat of arms of the Plettenbergs, held by two lions. Below, on the attic floor, four female statues symbolize the four seasons.

In addition to the centrally located state rooms, various salons and cabinets in the eastern wing, the building also houses splendidly furnished guest rooms for high-ranking visitors in the rear western area (imperial room).

On both sides of the court of honor there are clearly lower, angular buildings with brick pilasters and double-curved gable extensions: west (left) the servant wing, east the chapel wing. It contains the chapel “Assumption of Virgin Mary”, magnificently furnished between 1705 and 1714. It is often used for weddings nowadays.

The elaborate portal of the chapel and the roof rider with his bell represent the only deviation in the symmetry of the palace complex. Above the portal you can see the figures of the evangelist John and St. Antonius of Padua, as well as the inscription of the laying of the foundation stone.

The building of the servants also has an interesting special feature with the sundial. It is considered unique in Central Europe because the digits do not indicate the direct time, but (with the exception of the two outer ones) the number of half an hour after sunrise.

In 1913, the originally L-shaped farm buildings adjoining to the south were replaced by bright, representative vestibules. Horse stables were originally planned  in the west and a brewing and baking house in the east.

If you leave the inner courtyard of the castle via one of the three large bridges, you reach the baroque north garden of the "Venus Island" via the wall that separates the inner and outer moat: a symmetrical garden. French garden architects were once used to plan it.

Due to the impressive restoration of this site according to authentic templates and original plans, the Schlosspark Nordkirchen is of particular importance today. Overall size including the castle terrace and promenoires: 240 x 130 meters = 31,200 square meters. The reconstruction was carried out from 1989 to 1991.

The entire castle park covers 72 hectares and has always been rich in sculptures. However, a large number of them have weathered and broken over time. If the visitor nevertheless notices the many brightly shining stone vases, animals and allegorical figures, these are mostly garden decorations that were created between 1903 and 1914 when the baroque gardens, primarily the Venus Island, were restored.

There is hardly an original figure in its old place today, with the exception of the large sculptures in the two chestnut avenues in the Westgarten: the oldest news about a delivery of these sculptures dates back to 1721.

In the east garden is the "Chinese fountain". The figures of the fountain represent agriculture, fishing, culture, caste, religion, music and warriors. They used to line the entire east garden and have been in their current position since 1972. A monument to the von Arenberg family was originally supposed to be here.

The Oranienburg is also in the area of ​​the Westgarten. This had already been erected in 1715 as a one-story orangery building by Peter Pictorius. From 1725 he expanded the orangery into a two-story garden casino and summer palace with ballroom. The administration of the University of Applied Sciences for Finance is housed in the Oranienburg today. Concerts and events take place in the large ballroom.

Separated from the Oranienburg by the Maze District, the pheasantry erected by J. C. Schlaun from 1727 to 1734 lay to the west, framed by a high wall rectangle measuring approx. 90 by 40 meters. It served as wind protection and protection against predators. After the pheasantry was demolished in 1935, there are with the two pillars still remains.

In the northwestern district of the palace park, the orangery was designed from 1727 - 1734, like the pheasantry, according to the plans of J. C. Schlaun. The flat gable on the south side adorns the coat of arms of Ferdinand v. Plettenberg under the count crown and the chain of the golden fleece. The gardeners apartments were in the two wings.

The area in front of the building was used as a vegetable garden and was divided into four smaller squares by a crossroads. Today there are mostly newly planted trees in this garden region. The orangery is privately owned and is used as a living and exhibition space.

Schloss Nordkirchen has been spared destruction by fire or war in its more than 300-year history. However, the natural deterioration of the strukture was very hard, especially in the 19th century. However, there were always buyers who invested money in the conservation. Sometimes it was a duke, later the state of North Rhine-Westphalia took over the imposing moated castle.

Schloss Nordkirchen has served as a university of applied sciences for finance in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia since the 1950s. Graduate financial economists are trained here, who are then mainly used in the country's tax offices.

- Deutsch/German -

Der Safaripark Stukenbrock ist ein kombinierter Freizeitpark mit Fahrgeschäften und Tierpark in Schloss Holte-Stukenbrock. Gelegen rund 20 Kilometer südlich von Bielefeld.

Der bereits 1969 eröffnete Park bietet einen Safari Bereich, durch den die Besucher mit dem eigenen Auto fahren können und einen Freizeitparkbereich, mit einigen Fahrgeschäften, Indoor- und Outdoor-Spielbereiche und anderen Attraktionen. In dem Bereich findet man aber ebenfalls noch einige Gehege mit Tieren.

Und wer mal mit Gepardenfauchen einschlafen und vom Löwengebrüll geweckt werden möchte, der hat seit kurzem die Möglichkeit hier zu Übernachten. Safari-Hütten und Safari-Zelte laden zum Glamping im Park ein. Ein kleines bisschen afrikanisches Lodge-Feeling mitten in Deutschland.

Der Freizeitparkbereich ist für Familien mit Kindern sicher eine tolle Sache, für uns jedoch vollkommen uninteressant. Von daher fanden wir den Eintrittspreis von 32,50 EUR (erwachsene) bzw. 26,50 (Kinder), bisher auch überteuert.

Nur um die Tiere anzuschauen ist das schon ein heftiger Preis, da kommt man selbst im teuersten Zoo deutlich günstiger weg. In Verbindung mit dem Freizeitpark-Aktivitäten mag Preis/Leistung anders aussehen.

Allerdings stellt sich die Preisfrage im Augenblick durch die Corona-Krise überhaupt nicht, denn es ist ja vieles geschlossen. Um wenigstens einen Teil der laufenden Kosten zu decken, hat man mit den Behörden eine Zwischenlösung vereinbaren können:

seit dem 17. April sind Safaris im (ausschließlich) eigenen Auto durch das Gelände erlaubt. Dafür wird pro Fahrzeug eine Pauschale von 20 Euro erhoben, unabhängig von der Anzahl der Personen.

Die Tickets können ausschließlich online für einen bestimmten Tag erworben werden und dieses Ticket ist nur für den auf dem Ticket stehenden Zeitpunkt gültig.

Die Tickets müssen selbst ausgedruckt werden und am Eingang am Kassenhäuschen kontaktlos abgegeben werden. Weitere Angebote des Safariparks stehen bis auf Weiteres nicht zur Verfügung. Cabrios, Autos mit Faltdächern und Busse sind von der Durchfahrt ausgeschlossen. 

Vor (und natürlich auch nach) der Safari-Durchfahrt ist ein Toilettenbesuch möglich, diese werden regelmäßig gereinigt und desinfiziert. Parkmitarbeiter stehen auch hier parat. Ansonsten ist Aussteigen oder gar ein Aufenthalt auf dem Parkplatz oder im Park streng verboten. Die Safari-Tour kann täglich von 10:00 bis 16:00 Uhr unternommen werden.

Eine dicke Überraschung erlebten wir, als wir uns dem Parkeingang näherten: am Eingang knubbelten sich bereits hunderte Autos, die alle eine Safari zum Sonderpreis machen wollten.

So schoben wir uns Stoßstange an Stoßstange in die erste Schleuse, um in den Raubtierteil zu gelangen. Erst als die Schleuse bis auf den letzten Stellplatz gefüllt war, wurde diese hinten geschlossen und nach vorne geöffnet.

Im Schneckentempo kroch nun die ganze Karawane aus der Schleuse, um dann erst einmal im Stau zu stehen. Zentimeterweise schlichen wir weiter, dazu gab es immer wieder Lautsprecherdurchsagen, man möge doch zweispurig durch das Gelände fahren.

Das ist ja nett gemeint, doch wenn die Löwen nun mal rechts liegen, wollen natürlich auch alle rechts fahren, da macht fahren auf der linken Spur nicht ganz so viel Sinn, denn zum Bäume gucken ist wohl niemand angereist.

Zunächst fährt man durch das Gehege mit den "normalen" Löwen, daran schließt sich der Bereich mit den weißen Löwen an und zum Schluß kommen die weißen Tiger.

Hier meinen wir auch einen Liger - einen Löwe/Tiger-Hybriden - ausgemacht zu haben. Vernünftige Fotos sind dort aber kaum möglich, da man die ganze Zeit die anderen Autos im Bild hat und man immer im Fluss bleiben muss.

Schließlich gelangt man wieder in eine Schleuse, die die Besucher in das "Grasfresser-Areal" mit Antilopen, Giraffen, Emus, Gnus, Lamas, Zebras und Watussis entlässt. Darin integriert, und nicht wirklich schön, separate Gehege für die Elefanten und Kamele. Wirklich ansprechend sind die Gehege nicht!

Was folgt, ist ebenso skuril, wie einzigartig: Um zum Ausgang zu gelangen, fährt man jetzt kreuz und quer durch den Freizeitpark. Vorbei an der Wildwasserbahn, an der Western Show etc. Alle Attraktionen sind mit Corona bedingt Flatterband abgesperrt und es herrscht eine eigenartige Geisterstimmung.

Zusätzlich befinden sich zwischen den (geschlossenen) Fahrgeschäften einige weitere Tiergehege. Darunter noch einmal weiße Tiger und Löwen, 1 altes Breitmaulnashorn, Affen, Geparden, Erdmännchen und ein Streichelzoo mit Ziegen und Schafen. Traurig stimmt dabei die Anlage für die Tiger. Artgerechte Haltung ist sicher etwas anderes. 

Der Safariteil ist annehmbar, hat uns als alte "Afrika-Hasen" nicht wirklich begeistert. Die vielen Menschen dort zeigten uns, dass das Konzept doch gut ankommt und rege genutzt wird. Für Familien mit Kindern ist das gerade in den aktuell schwierigen Zeiten sicherlich eine nette Abwechselung.

Ob wirklich Nashörner direkt zwischen den Vergnügungsattraktionen in einem lieblosen Areal gehalten werden müssen, oder ob man heute noch Tiger auf einer winzigen Insel aussetzen muss, ist meines Erachtens sehr fragwürdig. Längst überholt wirken auch einige der Anlagen.

Alles in Allem würden wir sagen: wir waren da und haben es gesehen. Uns zieht es jedoch in naher Zukunft nicht nochmals dorthin.

Three waterways meet directly south of the city of Datteln: the Rhine-Herne Canal from Duisburg, the Datteln-Hamm Canal from Hamm and the Dortmund-Ems Canal from Meppen and Dortmund. A few kilometers north, the Wesel-Datteln Canal branches off towards Wesel.

The approximately 15-kilometer-long section of canal to the port of Dortmund starts here, it´s almost 15 meters higher than the other three canals. Together with this section, the Henrichenburg boat lift necessary to bridge the height difference was opened personally by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1899.

The propulsion of the mighty trough, in which the ships were transported like an elevator between the levels, was a technical innovation of its time. It was a key construction of the Dortmund-Ems Canal, because only when it was completed could the Canal be navigated to the port of Dortmund. This boat lift is the largest and most spectacular building of the first construction period of the Dortmund-Ems Canal.

Instead of a cable or hydraulic main driving force, the 68-meter-long trough rests on floating bodies in 5 water-filled cylinders. Little force was required to lower or raise the trough by ship. A complete lowering or lifting process, including entry and exit, took about 45 minutes.

In 1969, the aging boat lift was shut down and initially fell into ruins before the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) took over the facility in 1979, renovated it and later operates the industrial museum, which is set up here today, as one of eight LWL locations in North Rhine-Westphalia.

After restoration and reconstruction, the old boat lift is - without restoration of its original function - together with its lower outer harbor (underwater), the upper outer harbor and a piece of canal (upper water) the museum. The lower outer harbor is also used as a marina.

The two striking towers of the lift  with their characteristic spheres on the top are stairwells, which a bridge  on the scaffold can be climbed over. From here there is a good view of the steel frame and the surrounding area.

The trough in which the ships were moved up and down is also accessible. In the outdoor area around the old boat lift, visitors getting deep insight into the ship lifting technology.

The area around the old boat lift was converted into an open-air museum. It will be presented with some special steamships, a shipyard, a replica loading system and an old lift bridge. Information boards explain the respective objects, including QR codes for audio guides.

Control devices and illustrations relating to the principle of lift technology can be viewed in the building (former boiler and machine house) next to the monumental steel frame.

The police and fire-fighting boat Cerberus from 1930 is in the upper port and the motor cargo ship MS Franz-Christian from 1929 - with the exhibition “A working life on board” in the cargo store - hold in the lower port.

On a 400 m long section of canal following the upper outer harbor, the museum shows a collection of historical ships that is unique in Europe, including the steam tug Fortuna and the only steam tank ship in Europe that still exists, Phenol.

There are also floating tools, a docking and loading point for freight ships, a slipway for ship repairs with a historic slewing crane from 1906 and the channel opening with an old folding gate from 1914 as well as a historic lift bridge from 1897. Unfortunately, a certain renovation backlog of the objects is obvious.

Changing special exhibitions can be seen in the reconstructed harbor building. The city of Waltrop also runs a branch of the registry office here.

  The Gastrobus - a London double-decker from 1959 - offers a small selection of food and drinks. When the weather is nice, you sit outside and enjoy the view of the lift and the canal bank. Open: Tue - Sun 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

The “Schatzinsel” café is also waiting on the upper water near the water playground. Open from April 30th to September 1st: Sat, Sun from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Opening times and admission prices:

Adults € 4.00 Groups of 16 people or more € 3.50 per person Children, adolescents (6 - 17 years) and pupils 2.00 € Students with guided tours € 1.10 (2 companions free), reduced ticket € 2.50 Family day ticket € 9.00 Combo card available for the industrial museum and exhibition hall at the new sluice gate

The LWL industrial museum at the Henrichenburg boat lift is open all year round, from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Last admission 5:30 p.m. Closed: Mondays (except public holidays) and from December 23rd. until January 1st.

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